Vaughn’s Neck is a 709-acre contiguous forest that consists of two adjacent properties, Great Mountain (245 acres) and Vaughn’s Neck (464 acres). It includes a 4-mile long peninsula in Candlewood Lake in western Connecticut. An additional 88 acres is available for use on Green Island (36 acres) and Deer Island (52 acres).
Candlewood Lake is a man-made body of water that was created in the 1920’s as a part of a hydroelectric project built by the Eversource. Predominant vegetation consists of upland hardwood forest with several small, forested wetlands.
Vaughn’s Neck represents one of the few remaining large blocks of undeveloped forestland that is adjacent to the lake. The abundance of diverse habitat on the property supports many species of birds, amphibians and reptiles. Adjacent Candlewood Lake is a premier Connecticut fishing resource.
A nearby Eversource property is Pootatuck, which is adjacent to the Pootatuck State Forest and Squantz Pond State Park. Together, Eversource lands contribute significantly to the open space resources in this heavily developed area.
- Access: This property can be accessed from the north by parking on Green Pond Road at the Great Mountain property. The best access for Vaughn’s Neck is by boat.
- Location: New Milford, Conn.
- Size: 709 acres
- Recreation: Hunting (Permit Only); Fishing; Wildlife viewing/Bird watching; Wildlife/Nature photography.
- Features: 797.6 acres of unfragmented, managed forest; Eversource managed hunting area; 19 acres of streams, vernal pools, wetlands; Undeveloped, steep, sloping terrain; 5 miles of Candlewood Lake frontage.
- Wildlife: Waterfowl; Deer; Turkey; Fish.
How To Get There
Take I-84W to exit 7, merge onto US-202E/US-7N toward New Milford, Continue straight onto US-202E/Federal RD, Slight left onto US-202E/US-7N/Danbury Rd, Turn left onto CT-37S/Sherman Rd, Take first left onto Candlewood Mountain Rd, Slight right onto Bullymuck Rd, Turn left onto Hubbell Mountain Rd, Continue onto Green Pond Rd.